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Summary: This book was one of the best fanticy books!
Review: This book was one of the best and most well thought out books that I have read. L.E. Modesitt, Jr. created his own system of weeks, and cutlure, while borrowning form other authors little. This is a must read!
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Summary: slow start, but worth it
Review: This is a classic series! Modesitt's world of good and evil (Chaos and Order) is intriguing and keeps you hooked. This novel has a slow start (what do you expect the main character is "bored" with his life, but trust me, it's worth it. The series really picks up and the books are deeply entwined with one another
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Summary: Not the best Fantasy, but okay for a quick, fun read....
Review: I found The Magic of Recluse to be very good, but Modesitt uses the same elements of fantasy over and over again. I like new fantasy; Goodkind, Williams, and others who make us think about what we are reading and we have to ask ourselves: Hey, how can I relate to this story. Modesitt does not do this. He uses the traditional fantasy elements and gives us a story of heroism that is a good read, but nothing really new to the genre. TMOR is a quick read, fun and sometimes exciting, but nothing but a repeat of such authors' genius as The Earthsea Cycle (Ursula K. LeGuin), Middle Earth (Tolkien), and Shannara (Terry Brooks). I DO reccomend it for any reader--Modesitt is a great writer--but like I said, it is nothing new. I give it an 8, just because I was let down. I thought this was going to be one of those life-changing novels that lead me to re-analize my life. Instead I got what I could call a good re-run of A Wizard of Earthsea. Too bad, really!
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Summary: The Magic of Recluse is a must read title!
Review: Depending on what you look for in a book, this may or may not be for you. If you look for a book with intrigue, and charachter development, this would be a must read title. If you are looking for a title that deals with more hack and slash adventure, I would advise you to look otherwise. What is truely fascinating about this book is its ability to make the dialouge and the charachters seem real enough to be sitting next to you. The Magic of Recluse brings new life to a previously dead genre of Chaos and Order!
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Summary: Great Book in a Bad Series
Review: This was an engaging journey into a unique world of magic. The coming of age of Lerris was well presented. My only regret is that the author did not stop after the first book. The subsequent installments are not worth the read.
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Summary: A GREAT BOOK
Review: A must read page-turner. A brand new interpretation of the good vs. evil conflict and the deep humanity of the characters make this book one of my all-time favorites.
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Summary: A definite good start to the Recluce series: a must read
Review: Wow! I did not expect much from this book, but it ended up great! The only thing which kind of got tedious (and many other readers would agree with me) was Lerris' never-ending barrage of crap like
"I'm too bored" and "Why must this happen to me".
Other than that, the book is just pure magic.
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Summary: Amazing! A classic. Please read this book!
Review: I only have one thing to say, Amazing!I have read fantasy for a long time and this is agreat tale of good, gray,and choas magic
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Summary: A refreshing fantasy that looks at shades of grey
Review: L.E. Modesitt, Jr. has accomplished something that seems rare these days: a series, starting with this book, that actually stays consistent in quality. Forget the simplistic "good vs. evil" plots. We are introduced to Recluce, ruled by Order yet flawed and manipulative; even Lerris, the protagonist, suffers from terminal boredom and immaturity until he finally accepts responsibility for himself and his powers.
One of the most interesting aspects of this series is its exploration of the polarities between order and chaos--which, as the reader discovers in a later book, _The Order War_, must exist in balance. I suspect, though I cannot be sure, that Modesitt takes some of his ideas from chaos and complexity theory. His magic is well thought-out rather than arbitrary, almost scientifically so.
That aside, the reader is treated to intriguing characters (though some may find Lerris' initial whining, the present tense, and the point-of-view shifts difficult at first) and some truly marvelous description. Lerris' woodworking scenes almost made me want to take up the craft--and it did indeed advance the plot!
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Summary: Finally, a new and original twist to the fantasy genre. . .
Review: THE MAGIC OF RECLUCE brings a whole new approach to the magic contained in typical fantasy novels. The magic in this novel is divided into three catagories: white is chaos, black is order, and grey is both. Mr. Modesitt goes into great length describing the rules of these magics, and one of the most interesting ideas that he presents is that order and chaos cannot exist without one another. Mr. Modesitt also presents a large stock of characters with whom it is easy to relate, especially to the main character because the first person narraration allows us to know what he is thinking and identify with him. The only problem I had with this story was that it could run a bit slow at times, but never to the point of boredom. I would recommend this story to any fan of hard core fantasy, or even to someone who is just beginning to explore the genre
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